54 pages • 1 hour read
Naguib MahfouzPalace Walk
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1956A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz is set in Cairo during World War I and in its immediate aftermath, focusing on the al-Jawad family's daily life and the political climate as Egypt transitions from British occupation to nationalism. The authoritarian patriarch, al-Sayyid Ahmad, enforces strict rules, while secretly indulging in forbidden behaviors. Amina, his obedient wife, faces harsh consequences for a brief act of rebellion. Meanwhile, the family's dynamics evolve as the children navigate personal and political challenges within a changing Egypt. The novel includes descriptions of misogyny, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz masterfully captures early 20th century Cairo, portraying complex family dynamics and societal transitions. Reviewers laud its vivid character development and cultural depth. Some critics find its pacing slow and certain traditional gender roles dated, but overall, it's praised as a captivating introduction to Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy.
Who Should Read Palace Walk?
Readers who enjoy richly detailed historical novels and complex family sagas like Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude or Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina will be captivated by Naguib Mahfouz's Palace Walk. Fans of narratives that delve into cultural and political transitions will appreciate this evocative portrayal of early 20th-century Cairo.